Nut-making machine.



No. 802,524. PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905. A. D. RAY.

NUT MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JU NB 23, 1902.

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PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905.

A. D. RAY.

NUT MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1902.

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No. 802,524. PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905.

A. D. RAY.

NUT MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 23, 1902.

4 SHBETSr-SHEET 4.

ll 21 272725X UNITED PATENT OFFIOE.

ALBERT D. BAY. OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE OHIO NUT & BOLT COMPANY, OF BEREA, OHIO, A

CORPORATION OF OHIO.

lNUT lVlAKlNG. MACHINE,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed June 23, 1902. Serial No. 112,830.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT D. RAY. acitizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in N Lit-Making Machines, (Case No. Of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in nut-making machines, and has for its object the provision of means for rapidly and accurately forming and tapping automatically nuts or tapped parts of various shapes and sizes from flat wire, metal strips, or rolls by asinglecontinuingoperation. Althoughadding to the cost and increasing the length of time required for their manufacture, the cheaper grades of nuts commonly have required hitherto two distinct and separate operationsthe punching and cutting of the blanks and their subsequent tapping which involved their rehandling, to complete the same. 7

My improved machine contemplates the au tomatic manufacture of the completed nut or tapped part with no attention from the operator further than renewing the supply of material therefor and the most general supervision of its operation.

lVhile nut-like or tapped parts of regular or irregular form, which I shall herein designate by the term nuts, are capable of being very rapidly cut or punched outin blank form, the subsequent tapping requires a relatively much longer time, and in consequence my machine is designed to carry on these operations concurrently, though somewhatindependently, at a speed necessarily regulated to some extent by the character of the work in hand.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description of the embodiment of'my invention herein illustrated I may briefly and generally describe the nut-making machine of my in vention as consisting of means for feeding a ribbon or flat wire to a punch which forms therein the hole to be tapped, and to a shear, die, or cutter-punch which cuts the nut-blank therefrom. A slide is provided wherein the blank is received, and a traveler or reciprocating part advances the nut'blanks as formed into position beneath automatically-actuated drill parts or taps in said machine, which together serve to complete the nuts as rapidly as they are cut by the cutter-punch or die. A common cam-shaft equipped with cam parts respectively controlling the several nut-making parts of the machine secures their positive operationin proper order or sequence. The reciprocating carrier is provided with an adjustment adapting the machine to the manufacture of tapped parts or nuts of various sizes and shapes, while the slide or blank guide is equipped with a retaining device for securely holding the nut-blank in position to be moved by the reciprocating carrier beneath the proper drill or tap. Each of the tappingspindles (two being shown herein) is provided with an adjustment for regulating the depth of bore of its tap, with a spring-mounting or safety appliance avoiding the breakage of the machine or its parts in case an imperfect or improperly-positioned blank finds its way beneath said tap, and with means for securing its positive action in alternation with the other tap. Supporting-springs normally maintain the taps in position clear of the guide or slide wherein the nut-blanks are tapped, the same also assisting to effect the withdrawal of the taps from the completed nuts.

The details of my said invention, certain features of which are claimed in my divisional application, Serial No.150,836, iiled April 2, 1903, will be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view of the machine in front elevation with the right-hand tapping-spindle depressed in position to complete the nut. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine, showing the other tapping-spindle in its depressed position. Fig. 3 is another view in side elevation, partially sectioned, showing the opposite side or end of said machine. Fig. at shows in rear elevation the machine partially dismantled to set forth more clearly the operating mechanism of the reciprocating blankcarrier. Fig. 5 illustrates portions of the machine as viewed from beneath the working table. Fig. 6 is a perspective detail particularly illustrative of the punches, the taps, the blank-guide, and the traveling blank-carrier. Fig. 7 is a detail, partially in section, showing the operating parts and adjustment of one of the tapping-spindles. Fig. 8 is another detail showing in section the blank-receptacle beneath the cutter-punch with its detent for the blanks. Fig. 9 is still another detail in section, showing the nut-blank guide and the traveling carrier associated therewith; and Fig. 10 is a perspective view, partially broken away, showing the clutch device for operating the punches.

The base portion of the machine, which serves merely as a support, is shown in none of the figures, which are broken away in order to illustrate more clearly the operative parts of the said machine. Similar parts are indicated by the same letter of reference throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring first to the principal figures of the drawings,some general resemblances existing between my improved nut-making machine and the well-known punch-press will at once be apparent.

On the frame (a are mounted the easilyrecognizable punch-press parts comprising the vertically-actuated punch Z for forming the hole in the nut-blank and the cutter-punch 0 for cutting the blank from the stock, which in this instance is a flat wire or ribbon (Z, carried upon a reel (Z, positioned in front of the machine.

Feeding-rolls (Z actuated by the ratchetwheel (Z are adapted to advance the wire to the punches as rapidly as the blanks are cut, the end of the wire being moved forward each time to engage the stop (P on the working table. I

The main shaft (6 is equipped with a clutch device a of well-known type adapted when tripped to cause one operative movement of the punches b and 0, which, it will be noted, are placed in tandem and act in succession upon the blanks.

Flanking the punches are the tapping-spindles e, which likewise are vertically movable and are positioned with their drills or taps immediately above the slotted nut-blank guidef, provided in the working table.

Mounted at the rear of the machine is the cam-shaft g, which is provided with heartshaped tapping-cams c, the reciprocator-cam it, and the trips (4" for engaging the trip-lever a connected with and controlling the clutch device.

The heavy balance-wheel (0* is constantly driven by means of an engaging belt and serves to operate the punches. This is accomplished, as stated, by means of the clutch device a (shown in Fig. 10,) which comprises the normally retracted plunger 1), eccentrically mounted in the end of shaft (0, opposed to which are the studs p oppositely extending within the chambered hub of wheel a", in position to engage plunger 1; when in its advanced or extended position. A semicircular wedge-shaped cam part q normally is forced by is spring g into engagement with an angular slot p in the side of plunger p, which serves to force the latter back against the tension of its spring within the shaft (4 and out of the path of studs 79, mounted interiorly of the wheel a. When either of the trips (0 engages the trip-lever (t the stem Q2, connected with the latter, serves to withdraw the cam part 9 momentarily from its seat within the slot p, thus permitting plunger 19 to advance and be engaged by one of the rotated studs 29 This imparts one revolution to the shaft (0, the actuating-plunger p being Withdrawn at the proper moment from engagement with its coacting stud p by reason of cam part q entering and seating itself in the slot 1), as is about to occur in the structure of Fig. 10. The controlling cam-shaft g is rotated by means of a worm g and its meshing gear g, cut upon the periphery of the right-hand cam-wheel e, the corresponding cam-wheel carrying the diametrically disposed trips a upon its periphery. (See Fig. 4.)

The tapping-spindles e are positioned quite near and upon either side of the cutter-punch with which they are in line and immediately above the nut-blank guide f, extending transversely of the press-table. Said guide is centrally cut away for its full width from above, immediately beneath the shearing or cutting punch c, to form a receptacle wherein the blanks drop as they are out. A spring-actuated detent f, Fig. 8, at the bottom of said receptacle serves to retain the nut-blank in proper position therein until the same is actuated beneath a tap by a finger or upright 71 of the reciprocating nut-blank carrier h, sliding transversely beneath the working ta ble upon the rod 7L2 and in line with the slotted guide f.

The fingers 71 are made adjustable upon the carrier by means of slots and holding-screws for the purpose of adapting the machine to the manufacture of lapped parts of various sizes and shapes. These lingers extend within the slotted blank-guide fin position to actuate the blanks therein beneath the drills or taps a. This blank-carrier with its actuating-fingers is reciprocated by means of the double bell-crank lever 7L3 and the coacting cam h and slides a nut-blank beneath each of the taps at every revolution of the camshaft'i. e., as rapidly as they are punched and cut by the press.

Supported from above by means of springs j, adjustable at their upper extremities by nut-and-bolt attachment, are the tappingspindles, which normally are sustained thereby in position for the nut-blanks to be alternately shoved beneath their caps, whereupon through the action of the diametrically positioned heart-cams 6 said spindles are actuated alternately and entering their taps within the guidef will automatically tap the blanks successively positioned beneath them spectively engaging at top and bottom the by the blank-carrier. This is accomplished I by means of the mechanism now to be described.

Each of the tapping-spindles is equipped with a double friction-cone and z" of integral construction, with which the centrallydisposed driving-cone 7a is adapted to be actuated into engagement. Said driving-cones are leather-faced and are respectively carried upon the right and left frames Z, which are pivotally mounted at the sides of the machine. These driving-cones are constantly driven by means of the pulleys l and the compound pulleys Z mounted within the frames, which are belted to rotate together.

The lever-arms m, respectively engaging their heart-cams e at the rear of the machine, are adapted to actuate the driving-cones 71) through the medium of the adjusting-screws m, which engage corresponding lugs upon their respective frames and the spring-actuated plungers 071?, said parts opposing each other and normally securing the concurrent movement of each frame with its corresponding lever-arm.

l/Vithin the double friction-cones, which are of tubular form, are the spiral springs 2' reannular lugs 01 upon the spindle-shafts, and the rings 71*, carried at the tops of the double cones, which cones are in consequence adapted to permit the said shafts to move upward within their respective cones against the tension of the engaging springs The frictioneones are splined upon the spindle-shafts and serve to rotate them in one direction or the other when actuated by the driving-cones 70, this being dependent upon which of the double cones, the upper or the lower, the respective driving-cone is brought into engagement with.

As has already been stated, the frames Z, earrying the driving-cones, are pivotally mounted, and to the latter is imparted sufiicient vertical movement at each rotation of the camshaft to cause, first, the lower and then the upper friction-cones of the tapping-spindles to be engaged by said-driving-cones. This serves to depress the tapping-spindles in alternation, meanwhile rotating the taps and forcing them into the holes punched inthe nut-blanks, whereby the threads are cut, and then reversing their rotation and causing their withdrawal. Th us while the punches are acting upon and forming two blanks, the taps in alternation are caused to complete one nut each, the blank-carrier during the same time making one complete reciprocation and alternately advancing the blanks as formed to positions beneath the taps or drills, and simultaneously pushing the completed nuts from the ends of the guide f, all of this being automatically and accurately regulated by the controlling cam-shaft and its cam parts. By referring to Fig. 6 the operation of the blank and nut forming parts of the machine and the manner in which they cooperate will become perfectly apparent.

An oil-pump of the usual construction is attached to the rear of the machine at 0 and supplies oil through pipes 0 (shown merely in position) and a system of connecting-piping (omitted for the sake of clcarness) to the taps and the punches. The detentf" engages the blanks as formed and prevents them from being displaced by the flow of oil or the vibration of the machine.

Steady-rods 3', attached to the supportingyokes of the spindle-shafts, prevent the latter from rotating with their respective shafts.

A connecting-strap a, eccentrically hung at the end of shaft 0, actuates the feed-rolls to advance the wire to the punches through the medium of the ratchet-wheel ci and its engaging dog (6.

The adjusting-screws m serve to regulate the vertical working positions of the drivingcone frames, and in consequence of the respective spindles, thus permitting the full lengths of the drills or taps to be used merely by controlling the depth of their bore into the blanks. On the other hand, the springmountings interposed between the tappingspindles and their friction -cones serve as safety appliances, in that the springs 21 will yield if the blank is imperfect, improperly positioned, or otherwise would be likely to injure the machine, while the spring-actuated plungers m will give should the tap fail properly to withdraw from a nut. Springs 7' tend to raise the spindles and assist such withdrawal, their tension being easily regulated by their supporting nuts and bolts 7", said springs also normally supporting the tapping-spindles, so that their friction-cones are maintained out of engagement with their respective drivingcones, whereby the friction-cones and spindles are not constantly driven.

To epitomize now the operation of the machine: Assuming that the h'rst blank has already been formed and fallen within the receptacle beneath the cutter-punch and the hole for the second blank has been punched in the stock, the punches will be raised, while the feed-rolls advance the wire the distance necessary to permit the second blank to be cut off. Meanwhile the blank-carrier moves the first nutblank beneath the right-hand tapping-spindle. hen it has reached the proper position, the right heart-cam will cause its corresponding tapping-spindle to descend, which being rotated in the manner above explained will tap the first blank. One of the trips simultaneously actuates the clutch, and the punches together descend, respectively, to punch the hole in the third blank and to cut off the second. In turn this second blank is actuated upon the return movement of the blankcarrier into the tapping position beneath the left-hand tapping-spindle, while the rotation of the right heart-cam causes the withdrawal of the other tap from the first blank, which is now a completed nut. The machine continues indefinitely in this manner, cutting or forming the blanks and tapping them automatically at substantially the high speed attained by a punch-press in punching the blanks merely.

It will be readily appreciated by those conversant with machines of this general character that my improved nut-making machine is one readily adapted to the manufacture of a wide range of punched, bored, and tapped parts simply by adjusting and equipping the same with suitable punches or dies and with drilling or tapping parts, and I do not Wish to be understood as claiming merely a machine for cutting and finishing square nuts from flat wire or stock, althoughIhave so described it as very possibly exemplifying its most common use.

In my use of the term blank-forming mechanism or its eq uivalent herein Idesire to be understood as contemplating and meaning suitable means for making and finishing the blank ready to be tapped, which in association with suitable tapping mechanism for completing the nuts at a single continuing operation is novel, as I believe. Furthermore, the inclusion in the appended claims of a plurality of tapping devices has reference to the employment in a machine of this type of more than one tapping appliance or set of finishing-taps, each designed for completing the operation of interiorly threading the nuts, whereby the operative speed of the machine is greatly increased.

Accordingly I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a blank-forming appliance, of a plurality of tapping devices operating independently upon different blanks in conjunction therewith, a traveling blank-carrier having a path of movement reaching said devices and adapted to actuate the blanks in turn as formed into position to be tapped by one of the several tapping devices, and controlling cam parts mounted to operate in unison and respectively drive the tapping devices and actuate the blank-carrier into position beneath each of said devices in turn,,substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a blank-forming appliance, of a plurality of finishing appliances for operating independently upon different blanks in conjunction therewith, a traveling blankcarrier having a path of movement extending to said appliances and adapted to actuate the blanks in turn into position to be finished by one of the duplicated finishing appliances, and controlling parts With connecting mechanism mounted to operate in unison and respectively actuate the finishing appliances and move the blank-carrier in turn into position before the same to deliver the blanks, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with blank-forming mechanism, of a plurality of independently-operating tapping devices coacting therewith to finish different series or sets of blanks, a nut-blank carrier having a path of movement .past the blank-forming mechanism, adapted to actuate successive blanks into position to be tapped, and controlling cam parts mounted to operate in unison, respectively, the tapping devices and also to actuate the carrier alternately before the same, substantially as set forth.

I. In a nut-making machine, the combination with blank-forming mechanism comprising a punch and a cutter punch or die, of a plurality of laterally-disposed tapping devices operating in conjunction therewith, a reciprocating nut-blank carrier having a path of movement past the cutter-punch, and adapted alternately to actuate the blanks into position to be tapped, and controlling cam parts mounted to operate in unison, respectively, the tapping devices and also to reciprocate the nutblank carrier, substantially as set forth.

5. In a nut-making machine, the combination with blank-forming mechanism comprising a punch and a cutter punch or die, of the laterally-disposed tapping devices operating in conjunction therewith, a guide for the blanks extending between the cutter-punch and the tapping devices, a nut-blank carrier operating therein having a path of movement beneath the cutter-punch, and adapted alternately to actuate the blanks as formed into position to be tapped by said tapping devices, and controlling cam parts mounted to operate in unison, respectively, the tapping devices and also to reciprocate the nut-blank carrier, substantially as set forth.

6. In a nut-making machine, the combination with blank-forming mechanism comprising a punch and a cutter punch or die part, of a plurality of laterally-disposed tapping de vices operating in conjunction therewith, a traveling nut-blank carrier having a path of movement beneath the cutter punch, and adapted alternately to actuate the blanks as formed into position to be tapped thereby, and controlling cam parts mounted to operate, respectively, the tapping devices independently and to actuate in unison the nut-blank carrier; the cam parts and associated tapping devices being so mounted as to secure the simultaneous operation of said devices upon the different sets of blanks respectively delivered thereto, whereby the speed of the machine is materially increased, substantially as set forth.

7. In a nut-making machine, the combination with a blank-forming appliance comprising a punch and a cutter punch or die, of two laterally-disposed tapping devices operating in conjunction therewith, a reciprocating nutdevices, the same being adapted to actuate the blanks into position to be alternately tapped thereby, and a controlling cam-equipped part connected with and effecting the coaction of the tapping devices and the alternate movement of the carrier into operative position before the same, substantially as set forth.

Signed at Cleveland, this 21st day of June, 1902, in the presence of two subscribing Wit- HESSGS.

ALBERT D. RAY. l/Vitnesses:

ELMER A. FULTZ, ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE. 

